Dayton, OH — September 24, 2024 — Ohio Task Force 1 (OH-TF1) has announced its mobilization as a Type I team in response to activation orders aimed at supporting FEMA Region 4 and the state of Florida in light of Tropical Storm Helene’s potential escalation into a major hurricane.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Helene is expected to strengthen significantly as it approaches the northeastern Gulf Coast on Thursday, raising concerns about life-threatening storm surges and hurricane-force winds impacting the Florida Panhandle and the western Gulf Coast.
In preparation for the storm, OH-TF1 will deploy a specialized team of 82 members trained in various search and rescue operations, including water rescues and K-9 assistance. The team is also taking along over 50 tons of equipment, functioning as a self-contained, all-hazard response unit to ensure they can assist local responders without straining regional resources.
The team’s initial staging area will be in Orlando, Florida, though specific deployment locations have not yet been confirmed.
Other teams mobilizing alongside OH-TF1 include Tennessee Task Force 1, Virginia Task Force 1, Virginia Task Force 2, Indiana Task Force 1, and Texas Task Force 1, highlighting a unified response effort to the anticipated disaster.
Media representatives are invited to the team’s headquarters at 2800 Old Springfield Road, Suite E, Vandalia, Ohio, for a briefing at 3 PM. The team is scheduled to depart by 5 PM. For additional inquiries, Public Information Officer Chris O’Connor can be reached at 614-774-5425 or via email at [email protected].
